£100,000 boost helps keep lifesaving air ambulance missions flying
Rescue charity says community support is ‘lifeblood’ of service
A £100,000 fundraising boost will help keep a vital lifesaving air ambulance service serving communities in Northamptonshire and beyond.
Your Local Air Ambulance brings rapid emergency care across Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland.
The charity’s helicopters fly at 185mph, carrying the latest lifesaving equipment and crewed by expert critical care paramedics, doctors and pilots; all trained to respond to the most serious emergencies.
The donation was raised over the past year by David Wilson Homes South Midlands through a series of fundraising events.
Andrew Partridge, community fundraising executive at YLAA, said: "The money that they've managed to raise for us and donate will go entirely into funding those services.
"It helps make sure that people in Northamptonshire have their dedicated helicopter emergency medical service at their beck and call whenever they need it."
Ben Kalus, Managing Director at David Wilson Homes South Midlands, said: “As our Charity of the Year, the Air Ambulance Service has inspired colleagues across the business to get involved in a wide range of fundraising activities.
“Raising more than £100,000 is an achievement that reflects the incredible support shown throughout our partnership and knowing that these funds will contribute towards lifesaving care makes this milestone especially meaningful.”
The charity said the funding will help crews respond to a wide variety of emergencies, from serious collisions to medical emergencies.
Partridge added: "People traditionally associate the air ambulance with trauma incidents and road traffic collisions, but we've also seen quite a lot of medical incidents recently as well."
He also said seasonal trends can have a direct impact on demand, with crews responding to different types of incidents during the summer.
"In the summertime we tend to see an increase in motorcycle accidents, equestrian accidents and incidents in remote places where it's hard for road ambulances or traditional paramedics to get to people."
YLAA is currently focused on raising funds for a new purpose-built headquarters, which the charity says will secure its future in the region for years to come.
Partridge explained: "The plan is to raise £9 million to fund a purpose-built facility and base for our operations as our old base at Coventry Airport is sadly closing."
The charity receives no government or NHS funding and relies entirely on donations to operate. Each mission costs an average of £2,300, meaning fundraising plays a vital role in keeping helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.
Partridge said support from fundraisers and corporate partners was particularly important as fuel and medical costs continue to rise.
The £100,000 total was raised through a range of events organised by David Wilson Homes, including a Christmas quiz and a charity golf and shooting day.
Partridge said the partnership had become one of the charity's most successful corporate fundraising efforts.
"All of those events put together meant a grand total of just over £100,000, making it one of the best corporate partnerships we've ever had," he said.